Hi my husband gardens for a living, and yet our garden is always the one that gets left out! We have enormous fir trees which when planted 30+ years ago, were fine, but now just completey overpower the small garden and before long we'll have to take the patio table and chairs indoors to sit on as there won't be any room outside....we need to completely redesign the garden but ideas are not very forthcoming...we need help please. We have a small lawn area which used to be my husband's pride and joy, but the roots from the trees come so far into the lawn now that it's ruined - should we take it all out and pave the lot! Any suggestions would be great - a frustrated gardeners wife!
Hi your tree roots is a bit off a dilemma I personaly would say get shot off the trees or give them a trim that's your call though. I divided my garden into six sections which range from high shrubs lilac's budleia and lavaterias but they're kept in shape I like the idea off height and colour against dull walls etc but also like to have space for my borders and displays and not forgetting seating areas I'd suggest shillies? On the lawn, perhaps place your furniture on them with a few pots and borders surrounding? The calls totally your I can only express my opinion off I were in this situation hope I helped
Kate, we moved to a smaller garden but were amazed at the difference it makes if you garden upwards. The previous owner had put up a wooden sort of arch way (which you couldn't walk under) to grow things up so we have done more of this sort of thing when redesigning the garden ourselves. All the best.
I have a slightly larger garden than you Kate, but I too have gone circular. I have found that rounding off the corners of my lawn has added a whole new dimension to my garden, and helped to make it feel larger than it actually is. It's added a whole new depth to the garden. Its also a bit of a trick on the eye, since it seems to create a sense of flow to the garden that wasn't there before. A far more natural look, that I am now glad I had the courage to do! Good luck!
Ah, belle 25, the cobbler's children are always the worst shod. As gardening is your husband's work, the last thing he wants to do is gardening when he gets home. But it would be nice for him to sit and have his dinner on a patio full of plants and wildlife that you have created. I would scrap grass altogether except for a mini meadow full of native flowers, have birdbaths and feeders as the birds must love your trees, fill all corners where you don't walk or sit with pots or troughs of flowers to attract bees and butterflies and have a mini pond for frogs. I would also grow a rose up one of those trees.
My area is also a little better as it is not shaped just like a square and sort of have some extra areas on the side that makes way for more redesign options.
I actually though of layering the walls with rocks and putting a couple of plant boxes that are placed diagonally on the wall that will make it look like some special holder that is just right.
Update of my new potager build which is the project supposed to keep me gardening well into my nineties. The lads started work today and the first delivery of six tons of limestone chippings was made and the wood taken round to their workshop to be made into the eight raised beds. Two hours later they arrived back with the first one to see if I liked it. I most certainly did. Here it is, not in place yet, but built and awaiting the other seven. It is 2metres by 2metres and wil be 15inches tall when in the ground and the path built round it.
Heavens, Marion, if your FIRST delivery is six TONS then you must have a major project on! Glad you have help though as I'm undertaking a similar exercise but have to do the hard landscaping myself. I'm sleeping very soundly at night!!
I like the look of your raised beds. Very swish!
Where is the Bristol Botanic Garden btw? Might be worth a visit for some ideas.
The Bristol University Botanic Garden is sited at "The Holmes", a University residence in Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop, just behind the Downs. They have a lovely website but to give you an idea of how exciting it is , Excitable Boy, the whole garden is like a great story book. The main theme is the evolution of plants and within it and woven through the whole garden and with specific gardens as well, - Mediterranean type gardening, native and local plants, useful plants, including medicinal and food and fibre plants. We even have a mahogany tree! At present the garden is open Monday to Friday to the public for a voluntary donation only. But you will be able to see work in progress on our native meadow (seeds collected from the Downs), the Mediterranean Veg.Garden being prepared for the spring,, and this year , the Western Australian Garden being built. Do visit . You will be very welcome.
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Hi my husband gardens for a living, and yet our garden is always the one that gets left out! We have enormous fir trees which when planted 30+ years ago, were fine, but now just completey overpower the small garden and before long we'll have to take the patio table and chairs indoors to sit on as there won't be any room outside....we need to completely redesign the garden but ideas are not very forthcoming...we need help please. We have a small lawn area which used to be my husband's pride and joy, but the roots from the trees come so far into the lawn now that it's ruined - should we take it all out and pave the lot! Any suggestions would be great - a frustrated gardeners wife!
Kate, we moved to a smaller garden but were amazed at the difference it makes if you garden upwards. The previous owner had put up a wooden sort of arch way (which you couldn't walk under) to grow things up so we have done more of this sort of thing when redesigning the garden ourselves. All the best.
I have a slightly larger garden than you Kate, but I too have gone circular. I have found that rounding off the corners of my lawn has added a whole new dimension to my garden, and helped to make it feel larger than it actually is. It's added a whole new depth to the garden. Its also a bit of a trick on the eye, since it seems to create a sense of flow to the garden that wasn't there before. A far more natural look, that I am now glad I had the courage to do! Good luck!
Ah, belle 25, the cobbler's children are always the worst shod. As gardening is your husband's work, the last thing he wants to do is gardening when he gets home. But it would be nice for him to sit and have his dinner on a patio full of plants and wildlife that you have created. I would scrap grass altogether except for a mini meadow full of native flowers, have birdbaths and feeders as the birds must love your trees, fill all corners where you don't walk or sit with pots or troughs of flowers to attract bees and butterflies and have a mini pond for frogs. I would also grow a rose up one of those trees.
My area is also a little better as it is not shaped just like a square and sort of have some extra areas on the side that makes way for more redesign options.
I actually though of layering the walls with rocks and putting a couple of plant boxes that are placed diagonally on the wall that will make it look like some special holder that is just right.
Update of my new potager build which is the project supposed to keep me gardening well into my nineties. The lads started work today and the first delivery of six tons of limestone chippings was made and the wood taken round to their workshop to be made into the eight raised beds. Two hours later they arrived back with the first one to see if I liked it. I most certainly did. Here it is, not in place yet, but built and awaiting the other seven. It is 2metres by 2metres and wil be 15inches tall when in the ground and the path built round it.
Heavens, Marion, if your FIRST delivery is six TONS then you must have a major project on!
Glad you have help though as I'm undertaking a similar exercise but have to do the hard landscaping myself. I'm sleeping very soundly at night!!
I like the look of your raised beds. Very swish!
Where is the Bristol Botanic Garden btw? Might be worth a visit for some ideas.
The Bristol University Botanic Garden is sited at "The Holmes", a University residence in Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop, just behind the Downs. They have a lovely website but to give you an idea of how exciting it is , Excitable Boy, the whole garden is like a great story book. The main theme is the evolution of plants and within it and woven through the whole garden and with specific gardens as well, - Mediterranean type gardening, native and local plants, useful plants, including medicinal and food and fibre plants. We even have a mahogany tree! At present the garden is open Monday to Friday to the public for a voluntary donation only. But you will be able to see work in progress on our native meadow (seeds collected from the Downs), the Mediterranean Veg.Garden being prepared for the spring,, and this year , the Western Australian Garden being built. Do visit . You will be very welcome.
Six in, two to go. This is all
very exciting.